But practicality matters too, so Seat has added an estate version to its Ibiza range.

Badged the ST, it comes with a choice of 1.2 and 1.4 litre petrol engines and 1.2 or 1.6 litre diesels in various states of tune.

At the car's launch in Barcelona the 1.6 litre diesel had a very smooth and quiet engine which pulled willingly, without being a ball of fire. The ride is good and wind noise moderate.

The ride is quite soft but there is a Sport version with firmer suspension. It looks attractive, but in the cabin there is not much to surprise or delight. Some of the plastics look cheap and there was a slight rattle inside the instrument binnacle of the test car.